Well pumping apparatus



June 22, 1954 KANE WELL PUMPING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 14, 1952 June 22, 1954 E 2,681,623

WELL PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 14, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 zar- Dagz'd ffazze June 22, 1954 A E 2,681,623

WELL PUMPING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 14, 1952 W JJZVEHZUP' flagZd/fazze Patented June 22, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELL PUMPING APPARATUS David Kane, San Antonio, Tex.

Application February 14, 1952, Serial N 0. 271,528

Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to well pumping apparatus and more particularly to an improved actuating means adapted to be connected to the rod of a deep well pump.

Deep well pumpin units are frequently provided in connection with the removal of oil and Water or other liquids from a Well. Heretofore, those versed in the art have frequently employed straight line pumping jacks particularly of the type wherein a string of sucker rods are reciprocated by the oscillation of a so-called walking beam pivotally carried by a Samson post, the walkin beam being driven by a suitable power mechanism operating through a crank mechanism.

Many problems attend the use of such equipment. For example, it is highly desirable that the reciprocatory motion of the rods connected to the deep well pump occur in a perfectly straight line vertical movement. Since the walking beam is pivotally mounted on the Samson post, highly complicated mechanism must be employed in connection with the walking beam if the oscillation of the end of the walkin beam is to be successfully transformed into a vertical straight line motion.

The greater the depth of the well, the greater the increase in weight of the sucker rods connected to the deep well pumping unit, thus, if a particularly deep Well is being worked, enormous load variations occur during the up-stroke and the down-stroke of the deep well pumping unit. Some effort has been made in the past to counterbalance the walking beams, however, such structures are frequently cumbersome, complicated and expensive to manufacture. Moreover, maintenance problems increase with the complexity of the apparatus and the attendance of skilled operators is frequently required.

According to the general principles of the present invention, a linearly reciprocable pulley block is actuated by a drive means taking the form, by way or illustrative example, of a simple double acting piston type pump. A frame having guide rails supporting the pulley block positions the block superjacent a well head and pulley means are provided which cooperate with the movable block as well as with the rod of the deep well pump so that the movable pulley block will be loaded in one direction. A second pulley means is associated with the movable pulley block and includes counterweight means which effectively counter-balance the load imposed upon the pulley block by the weight of the deep well pump apparatus.

Since the pulley block is closely counter-balanced, a very small drive means may be efiectively employed. The apparatus thus provided affords the possibility of utilizing a highly simplified well pumping unit, which is easy to construct out of a reduced number of elements and which is conveniently operated and maintained by relatively unskilled personnel.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a well pumpin unit which overcomes the deficiencies of the well pumping units heretofore provided.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a well pumping unit wherein the loads are effectively counter-balanced so as to permit the advantageous use of a relatively small drive means.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an actuating means for a deep well pumping unit wherein a comparatively long straight line pumping stroke is obtained without the neces" sity of utilizing expensive and complicated mechanical structure.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the general principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example only.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a well pumping unit provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view with parts broken away and with parts removed, taken substantially on line III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of a modified well pumpin unit provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the well pumping unit of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view with parts shown in elevation and with parts removed, taken substantially on line VI-VI of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view with parts shown in elevation, taken substantially on line VII-VII of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the well pumping unit shown in Figures 4 and 5; and

Figure 9 is a view corresponding to Figure 5,

3 but showing the components of the well pumping unit in a different operating position.

As shown on the drawings:

The apparatus of the present invention is particularly suited for actuating a deep well pumping unit used for removing liquid, such as oil or water, from a well w drilled in the ground g, the usual well head being provided and indicated at Ill. The well head it! carries a stuffin box as at H through which a polish rod l2 projects. It will be understood that one end of the polish rod i2 is connected to the uppermost sucker rod leading to the deep well pumping unit in accordance with conventional practice.

According to the principles of the present invention, a platform 13 is provided which carries a frame work structure forming a support frame l4 conveniently fabricated from structurally shaped members such asangle irons or the like. The frame is carries a pair of upright guide members l5 and 'ilwhich are spaced opposite one another to form a trackway. The trackway is generally aligned so as to provide an axis of movement generally parallel to the reciprocatory path of movement of the polish rod t2. Movably supported between the guide members 18 and l! is a pulley block if; having guide pins l9 and at extending from opposite ends thereof and each being slotted to receive a'track wheel 25 and 22, respectively, adapted to ride on the guide members it and ii. A pin 23 is provided in the end of each of the guide pins l9 and 25 to journal the track wheels 2i and 22.

Each end of the pulley block 18 is provided with a bearing portion as at 213 journalling a sheave wheel 26.

The pulley blocl; ii; is recessed as at 2] to receive a piston rod 23 connected to a piston 29, forming a part of a double acting piston motor indicated at 3B.

The double acting piston motor as preferably comprises a type of motor well known in the hydraulic arts and includes an inlet 35 at each end of a cylinder regulated by a reversingvalve 32 which receives and directs the flow of pressurized fluid from a pump 33 driven by a motor 3d (Figure 2). a

'A pulley rope 35 is trained over each of the sheave wheels 25. One end of each of the pulleyropes es ismade stationary by affixing same in firm assembly to the frame It; or,'as shown in Figure 2, by affixing the end to a clip 3'5 carried by' the stationary portions of the pump 3%.

' The other end. of each of the pulley ropes Si; is connected to a cross head 38 provided with a coupling 39 which effects a connection of the cross head 38 to the polish rod l2.

'It will be evident that the weight of the deep well pumping unit will tend to load the pulley block i8 downwardly.

t shouldv be further noted that because the pulley ropes 3e are threaded over the sheave 4| adjacent a second drum or pulley wheel 13,

c which is likewise co-rotatable with the shaft ll.

as at 50 and connected to an eye bolt 5! firmly assembled to the pulley block l8. It will be appreciated that the load imposed on the pulley block [8 by the apparatus of the deep well pump unit'will tend to rotate the drum or pulley wheel 43 counterclockwise as shown in Figure 2.

By virtue of the arrangement thus described, almost an exact counter-balance can be'obtained insofar as the loading of the pulley block leis concerned merely by adding or subtracting the number of weights '48 on the cable member' l l.

' By approaching an exact counter-balance, acorn means on the pulley block it to provide, in effect, I

a two-strand connection between the polish rod and the piston rod 28, every unit of linear movement of the piston rod 28 will be matched by a corresponding linear movement of two units of the cross head 28, and hence the polish rod 12, connected on the movable ends of the pulley ropes 3t.

Atop of the frame l4. and generally superjacent the trackway provided by the guide members l5 and H are mounted a pair of bearings 40 journalling an axle ll. A drum or pulley wheel 42 is co-rotatably mounted on the shaft paratively small drive means may be effectively employed to reciprocate the pulley block is since it is necessary only to accelerate the total mass and to overcome the friction in the system.

It may be noted that the trackway provided by the guide members [6 and" is slightly offset relative to the path of linear movement followed by the polish rod 12, hence, the polish rod I2 is free to enjoy a comparatively long stroke without interfering with the motor 38 and the other components of the actuating apparatus.

The embodiment of Figures 5-9 is very similar to the embodiment of Figures 1-3 and identical reference numerals have been used to identify corresponding elements provided to develop similar functions. c

In the embodiment of Figures 5-9, a pair of guide members I60. and llaslidingly support a pulley block I8a1for'linear reciprocatory movement' along a path generally parallel the corresponding path of reciprocation followed by the polish rod 12. The'pulley block lea is provided with a pair of'shafts l9a and 29 each of which journals a sheave wheel 25a on each end thereof. The shafts 19a and 20a also journal a track wheel 1'2Ia on each end thereof to engage the trackway provided by the guide members 16a. and Ila. As shown in Figure 6, the pulley block Ilia is provided with a recess Z'ia which receives the piston rod 28 connected to the piston 29 of the motor 39 and the end of the piston rod 28 is provided with a threaded aperture as at 52 to receive'in firm assembly therewith an eye bolt 5 la connected to a cable member Add looped at one end thereof as at 50a.

Atop of'the frame [4 of the pumping unit embodiment shown in Figures 5-9 is a pair of bearings 46a journalling a shaft 41a; carrying a pair of drums or pulley wheels 42a spaced'adjacent a drum or pulley Wheel of reduced diameter indicated at Ma. A pair of cable members 4411 are reeled onto the drums or pulley members 42a and the free end of each of the cable members 44a indicated at 46a is provided with retainer means as at 41a to support one or more weights 48a;

The cable member 4911 is reeled onto the drum or pulley wheel 43a. I

An additional stationary pulley block is incorporated in the structural embodiment shown in Figures 4-9 in order that the pulley means between the pulley-block [8a and the polishjrod ifniay be compounded. Thus, a pulley block 53 is firmly assembled to the frame M by means of a bracket 54 carried by the guide members 16a and Ila. A shaft 56 is journalled by the pulley block 53 and carries a pair of sheave wheels 51 thereon.

A pair of pulley ropes 36a is provided and one end of each of the pulley ropes 36a is made stationary by connecting same to the bracket 31a firmly assembled to the frame [4. Each of the pulley ropes 36a, is then threaded over one of the sheave wheels 26a journalled on the shaft a whereupon the pulley ropes 3611 are threaded over the sheave wheels 51 carried by theshaft 56. The pulleyrope's 3611 are then threaded over the sheave wheels 26a carried by the shaft l9a of the pulley block [8a and the ends thereof are connected to a cross head 38 assembled with the polish rod l2 by means of a coupling 39.

Because of the compounding arrangement shown in Figures 4-9, a unit of movement of the pulley block |8a will be matched a corresponding movement of the cross head 38 of four units. Consequently, a long stroke may be successfully exploited. Moreover, because the pulley block 18a moves on a path of translation which is parallel to the path of reciprocation of the deep well pump unit and because the connection between the pulley block 3a and the rod of the pump unit is effected by means of a pulley arrangement, no complicated apparatus is necessary to promote straight line movement.

The weight of the deep well pump unit including the weight of the sucker rods and the polish rod connected thereto tends to load the pulley block I80; in one direction and this load is effectively counter-balanced by the weights 48a because the pulley block I 811 is connected to the drum or pulley wheel 43a by means of the cable member 49a, the cable member 49a being reeled onto the drum or pulley member 43a.

The motor is operated in a manner conventional in the hydraulic arts in order to reciprocate the pulley block la, a pump 33 driven by a motor 34 being provided to discharge oil through a selector valve 32 controlling the admission of oil into opposite ends of the cylinder of the motor 30 enclosing the piston 29.

It may be noted that in each of the embodiments the motor 30 is provided with an apertured lug 60 which is pivotally supported between. a pair of clips 6! carried on a platform 62 attached to the frame I4.

In Figure 9, the weights 480 are in their lowermost position while the polish rod 12 has been drawn upwardly through the stuffing box I I of the well head II] to its uppermost position. It will be noted that the piston rod 28 together with the pulley block I8a has been moved. through a comparatively short stroke.

In Figures 4 and 5, the weights 48a are in an uppermost position while the polish rod I2 is in a corresponding lower position. In this position, the pulley block I81: and the piston rod 20a have been moved to a fully retracted position relative to the motor 30.

It will be apparent that the pumping rig de scribed above provides a highly simplified structure which overcomes the disadvantages of pumping rigs which have been provided heretofore and which will be completely eflicient for its intended purpose. Although various minor structural modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art to the preferred embodiment herein described, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. Actuating means for a Well pumping apparatus rising above a well comprising a'movable pulley block, guide rails supporting said pulley block for linear reciprocating movement, a first pulley means cooperating with said movable pulley block and connected to the rod of a deep well pump depending into the well, whereby the pulley block is loaded in one direction, a stationary pulley block, a second pulley means cooperating with said stationary pulley block, and said second pulley means being connected to said movable pulley block, counterweight means adapted to be connected to said second pulley means to counter-balance the movable pulley block, and drive means to reciprocate the pulley block for operating the deep well pump in unison therewith.

2. Actuating means for a well pumping apparatus rising above a well as defined in claim 1 wherein said first pulley means has a predetermined compounding to determine the stroke of said pulley block and said rod of said deep well pumping unit.

3. Actuating means for a well pumping apparatus rising above a well comprising a frame, guide means on said frame, a pulley block carried by said guide means for linear reciprocation thereon, a pair of pulley wheels on said pulley block, a cable trained over each of said pulley wheels, one end of each of said cables being stationarily connected to said frame, a cross head member connected to the other end of each of said cables, said cross head member connected to the rod of a deep well pump depending into the well, thereby to load the pulley block in one direction, bearing means on said frame, a shaft journalled in said bearing means, a first drum carried by said shaft, a first cable reeled on said first drum and having a free end, a weight connected to the free end of said cable, a second drum carried by said shaft, a second cable reeled on said second drum and having an end connected to said pulley block, said weights arranged to counter-balance said pulley block, and drive means to reciprocate said pulley block to operate the pump in unison therewith.

4. An actuator mechanism for a deep well pump unit carried on the end of a plurality of sucker rods, comprising a piston motor having a movable reciprocating piston, a pulley wheel connected to the piston for reciprocation therewith, and a pulley rope over said pulley wheel having a stationary end and having a movable end connected to the rod of the deep well pump unit, said piston and said movable end of said pulley rope being reciprocated in unison to operate the deep well pump unit.

5. Actuating means for a well pumping apparatus comprising a frame adapted to overlie a well, a guide means on said frame, a pulley block carried by said guide means for linear reciprocation thereon, a pair of shafts on said pulley block, a pulley wheel on the ends of each of said shafts, bearing means on said frame, a shaft journalled in said bearing means, a first drum means carried by said shaft, a first cable means reeled on said first drum means and having a counterweight connected to the end thereof to rotate the shaft in one direction, a second drum means carried by the shaft, a second cable means reeled on said 7 7 second drum means having an end connected to said pulley block so that movement in one direction of said pulley block will tend to rotate the shaft in an opposite direction, drive means to reciprocate said pulley block, and a pulley means connected to said pulley block and the rod of a deep well pump unit depending into the well, said pulley means more particularly comprising a pair of pulley wheels carried on said frame and a pair of cable members having one end stationarily connected to said frame and being threaded over said pulley wheels on said pulley block and over said pulley wheels on said frame to provide a compound pulley connection between said pulley block and the rod of the deep well pump unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Van Emon -Dec. 19, 1876 Stebins Aug. 15, 1876 Smith Nov. 11, 1884 MacClatchie Feb. 8, 1927 Palm Feb. 16, 1932 Barrett et al Dec. 6, 1932 Humason May 23, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 7 Country Date Germany Oct. 21, 1919 

